Review: Flora & Fang (Nintendo Switch)

Developer: Bortbyting

Publisher: Flynn's Arcade

Format: Nintendo Switch

Players: 1-2 

Somewhere in the 80's gaming retirement hotel, Speccy hit Pssst! and Taito's Bubble Bobble hooked up and the result is Flora & Fang (Guardians of the Vampire Garden). 

Coming to the Switch via Steam, what we have is a pesky bug invasion of a highly productive garden of the night, tended by a couple of young vampires. Anyone with family who have an allotment or veg patch will know the pain of fruit and leaves ravaged in the night, and Flora & Fang is no different, so they are set on taking proactive measures. 

In one or two cooperative player mode, they spray the bugs, spiders and other nasties a few times to trap them in a bubble before they can make off with Dracula's precious pumpkins. Then, they burst them strategically for maximum rewards ala Bubble Bobble. 

With traps and ghostly bonuses along the way, we have a tight single-screen classic to enjoy as Flora and Fang try to keep daddy's prize gourds (or the reward coins) from being pilfered. The vamps can move the pumpkins around to protect them, and the odd power-up boosts the potency of the bug spray for a dash of liberal, joyous, revenge.

Across the further levels, spray-immune caterpillars, zippy mozzies and segmented centipedes, and more challenging nasties wriggle onto the scene. All adding to the dynamics and need for brain over brawn, alongside speedy reactions. 

The coins the vampires collect can be spent to upgrade gear and add more traps around the level, adding a tower-defence hint to proceedings. And having made it through a few rounds on each level, there are the massive insect bosses to battle to make it through the next part of the map. 

Across ice mountains, dangerous laboratories, building sites and other backdrops, the action ramps up with more threats, with a few mini-games to divert from the broadly similar action. And if a level sees us repetitively failing, collect all the bonus balloons to skip it. 

Splats and Bats

The first thing I felt about F&F was panic at the small platform area, and squinting into the gloom. It is very dark on my OG Switch screen, and only a bit better via HD Out. A game best to play in the pitch black then! 

Once I'd stopped jumping into the bugs (losing a life), hustling under them with spray becomes fun and protecting the pumpkins a satisfying feeling. Lining up the spray with the movement of the bugs takes a few goes, but soon becomes second anti-nature. 

Save all the garden produce for the best end-of-level rewards, but don't risk lives (or do) to aim for the maximum score. Over the levels, the play area gets bigger, but with more nasties on the prowl, staying sharp is key, and planning a few moves ahead essential.  

Otherwise, apart from the slightly touchy spray mechanic, hating getting stuck up a ladder, and the odd big-time gap where I have no idea if I've finished the level or a bug is lurking off-screen, Flora & Fang is a tight and cheery addition to Flynn's Arcade roster, not as perfect as Donut Dodo but still a great, charming and delightful challenge. 

Rating: 4/5

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